When you’re ready to look for a house to buy, look for a real estate agent too.  There are so many advantages to working with an agent when trying to find a house to buy.  Let’s explore some of the perks of having a real estate agent represent you as you prepare to purchase a home.

• Save $$$
• See Homes Before Anyone Else
• Negotiate Home Price and Terms
• Work on Your Behalf
• Resolve Unexpected Home Issues
• HOA Fees: Worth It or Not?
• Advantages of Professional Connections
• Choosing a Real Estate Agent

Save Money

One of the first things that surprise home buyers is that there is usually no charge to work with an agent.  The seller usually pays for your agent’s fees.  An agent can help you negotiate with the home seller to possibly pay for a portion of the closing costs as well.

The home seller usually pays for your agent's fees.

Another way a real estate agent can help you save money when buying a home is to work with the home seller to fix problems with the house before you purchase it.  For example, if the roof needs to be replaced, your real estate agent can ask the seller to offer a discounted purchase price to help cover the roof replacement cost.  Or, your agent can negotiate to have the roof replaced before moving into your new home.

Be The First to See New Homes

A real estate agent will be the first to see new houses listed for sale, even before they hit popular housing sites like Zillow.  

My uncle was fortunate enough to have an agent who stayed on top of new listings.  His agent called him late one evening after a new listing had been posted on the MLS.  They visited the house that night, it met his criteria, and he signed the contract immediately.  That’s the power of having a real estate agent work on your behalf to find you the right house to buy.

Your real estate agent will work around the clock to find the ideal house for you.

Home Price and Terms

An agent will help you from start to finish when buying a home, including negotiating the best price and terms on a new home purchase.  Your agent will compile a comparative market analysis (CMA) to determine a fair price for the house (only licensed real estate agents have access to the prices homes sell for).  If the results of the CMA show that the home is overpriced, you can submit an offer below the list price and have a better chance of it being accepted. 

Working For You

Your real estate agent is the liaison between you and the seller’s agent, getting answers to your questions about the house.  As a home buyer, you want to avoid contacting the home seller or seller’s agent directly because it can backfire.  The seller may end up using the information to negotiate against you.  An experienced agent has the best chance of getting answers from the home seller’s agent without causing turmoil.

Unpermitted Home Additions

Homebuyers like yourself are usually excited to see a new addition to the house they want to buy.  Your real estate agent can determine if the home addition was permitted or unpermitted.  In other words, did the home seller obtain the necessary permits to construct the home addition legally?  

What’s unfortunate is that unpermitted home additions or remodels can come with severe underlying issues that you wouldn’t know about without the aid of a real estate agent.  For example, if a home addition was built without a foundation, serious structural issues could surface once you become the homeowner.  Unpermitted work on a home you’re interested in purchasing could affect the amount of your home loan or if your loan gets approved.

HOA Fees 

Your agent will share information about any monthly HOA (Home Owner Association) fees associated with the house you wish to buy.  These fees might cover the costs of a professional groundskeeper, trash pickup, water, etc.  Your real estate agent can help you understand the fine print on the HOA agreement to help you decide whether the fees are worth the additional monthly cost.

Connections

Another perk of hiring a real estate agent is their connection with other professionals in the industry.  An experienced agent will have relationships with inspectors, appraisers, roofing contractors, etc.  If the house you’re hoping to buy needs a new roof, it’s a relief to know your agent can reach out to an experienced, reliable roofer they’ve worked with, saving you from researching a handful of roofers you know nothing about.  

Choosing Your Real Estate Agent

When choosing a real estate agent to help you find a house to buy, get referrals from friends and family.  Interview a variety of agents before settling on one.  

Your real estate agent will ask you to sign a Buyer’s Representation Agreement which commits you to use only that agent to buy a home.  This agreement also guarantees that the agent will do everything they can to help you find a house to buy.  You can cancel the buyer agreement if things don’t work out between you and your agent.  For example, an agent isn’t meeting your needs if he only shows you homes in neighborhoods you said you wouldn’t live in.  In this case, you should move on to a new agent after canceling the buyer’s agreement.  A good agent will work to find you a home to buy that meets your wants and needs.

Conclusion

A real estate agent works in your favor, helping you find a house to buy that meets your wants and needs.  Your agent will be able to gather details about the home you wouldn’t be able to obtain on your own, explain HOA fees, coordinate with the seller’s agent, and help you negotiate the price and terms of a home purchase.  An agent only gets paid when the transaction closes, and the home seller typically pays your agent’s fees.  Remember to interview more than one agent when you’re preparing to buy a home to ensure you find the best real estate agent for your needs.  Take advantage of the perks of having a licensed real estate agent in your corner when buying a home.

If you need a real estate agent, please reach out to Reazo at info@reazo.com .